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NYC…continued

July 24, 2012 Filed in friends,just the two of us

i am not planner….i don't like to be the one who makes the schedules.
i don't like to be the one who decides what everyone will be doing.
on trips or in groups i tend to just go with the flow.
or at least i try.
so the only thing i think i said besides "i want starbucks" when deciding where to go
was "i would love to see Fishs Eddy in real life.

i got my wish. 

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i was in love at first sight.

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major hot burning passionate love.

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i loved EVERYTHING in here.

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this picture is overexposed but those mugs look like notebook paper!!!
(if only they weren't 12 oz. mugs…i need a big mug)

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for reals…vintage linens just like at the barn in kansas!
i prefer my barn prices to fishs eddy.  
🙂

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a million milk glass cake stands.

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sour apple green hutch?
fabulous.
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i loved every detail in this store.
every display piece.
every hand painted sign.
every dish and cup and tea towel.

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i could have easily spent another hour here.
EASILY!
but of the four of us….i was the only one freaking out on the inside about how
completely amazing and REDONKULOUS this store was so i bought a t-shirt and we left.

i did not want to.

also i said "i'm going into anthro…" when i found it.

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we don't have many fire escapes in kansas….

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 we walked to the 9/11 Memorial.

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it was very quiet in here….right in the middle of the city.
the waterfalls and pools are so big.

i can't imagine what it was like for people in New York City on 9/11.
i looked around and was trying to comprehend it….
all i could think was "i hate that day"
i was far away from new york and i hate that day for me.
i was so scared for my children and my husband.
so i just can't imagine how the people of new york feel.
the people who saw it with their own eyes…who lost family and friends….
i hate that day.

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the memorial is beautiful.
it is a lovely place to honor the people who lost their lives.
but it's sickening that it has to be there at all.
evil.
evil in this fallen world.
but i was thankful for that beautiful quiet place.
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we took a ferry boat to the statue of liberty.

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she's lovely… just like i thought.

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storms were rolling in.

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after the statue of liberty we also took a tour of Ellis Island. 
and it poured rain outside.
POURED.

i did not stay dry.

and i didn't stay very chipper about it either…..

i am a girl.

i don't like to get rained on. 

we ate dinner in Little Italy.
it was so weird…they hassle you to get you to come eat at their restaurant?!
begging you to come in…try THEIR food….whadda ya lookin' for tonight folks?
with heavy new york accents.
 we chose the ONE place that didn't do that.
and it was yummy. 

one more new york post tomorrow.

:) 

 

add a comment

Kami - I too did NOT want to leave that store! Isn’t New York so amazing?!
Did you come home and roll around in your backyard when you got home? I did. As much as I love to visit NYC I LOVE to come home too. 🙂
ps. Your photo of the Statue of Liberty is beautiful!!

Martha - OMG…Fish Eddy’s. I NEED to go. That place looks amazing!!

Jenna - I have loved every single one of your NYC pictures! Thank you!!

Kelly - I do love Fishs Eddy! I have polka dotted drinking glasses from there.
I like Lombardy’s in Little Italy. Kelly

tiffany gardner - My brother has lived there for the last 20 years and my hubby and I lived there after college. Thanks for bringing back some memories to me today. NYC and its people hold a special place in my little oklahoma heart.

Cari - Oh my gosh! I have been obsessed with Fishs Eddy online for years!! How stinking cool you got to go to the store! Yay for you!!

Donna R - Awesome pics on my hometown. When I go back now I love to stop in Fish’s Eddy. Don’t you just wish you could pack the whole store up and take it with you?? 😉

Kimberly Dial - Loved your pics … lots of fire escapes … I hate 9/11 too … it’s the only day as an adult that I was afraid to go to sleep that night … eerily quiet … not sure what the morning would bring. I’ve been to NYC (prior to 9/11) & I hope to return some day to see the memorial … so many sacrifices made that day … God help us :/

karen gerstenberger - I would have stayed in that store with you for another hour!
Thank you for posting about the 9/11 memorial. I have never been to NYC and your photos – the perspective in your photos AND words – are some of the clearest and most personal I’ve seen/heard. Thank you for that. And I loved your Statue of Liberty photos!

jennie - I was at Ground Zero yesterday and Fish’s Eddy this morning before catching the train home. I would have been too, too excited if we had been there at the same time. Hope you had a great trip. Couldn’t you have sifted through the piles of dishes for hours?

Kimberlee Jost - Let’s go soon.
Like tomorrow.

Patty - Oh my…that store. Wow. I need to go. That’s for opening my eyes! What a treat.

Janine - I hope you made it to Puglia’s in Little Italy. Great food and such a fun place. The whole restaurant comes together and parties – standing on chairs waving napkins, singing, table war chants. I live so close and haven’t been in a while. I’ll have to trek in and be touristy one weekend. Your pictures are beautiful. That statue of liberty pic could be a post card!

Rebecca - Oh, my kids go to school in the big silver wavy building! I lived 6 blocks from the WTC on 9/11 & it was shitty, shitty, shitty, awful day and really hard time to follow. Thankfully the neighborhood is back bigger and stronger. I still haven’t been to the memorial. Just not sure how I feel about being right in there.
Fishs Eddy is an awesome store.

Leah - Amazing pictures! I feel like I’m in NY. And I seriously just teared up and started crying looking at the 9/11 Memorial photos the Statue of Liberty. I depicted the memorial beautifully. Thanks for the reminder of freedom – both from 9/11 and the Lady Liberty!

Christi @ the brown shed - I love all of your photos! We went to NYC at Christmastime. It was grand. Fishs Eddie was on my list, but after I see your photos, I am almost glad I didn’t make it there. I would have gone totally nuts! I did make it to ABC Carpet and Home… did you go there? That was fun. We ate at the best place in Little Italy. Da Nico’s. Ferrara’s bakery is just down the street from there, and it was soooo good. We also loved Magnolia Bakery. I can’t wait to go again someday.

Tracy Fisher - love that shop. had never heard of it. so, thanks! what fun. one day i’d love to visit nyc. one day 🙂 -tracy

Dara - love the fire escape pictures! I’m in kansas too – where are you? I would love to visit the barn you mentioned!

Sarah - You are beautiful. I love that shot of you in front of the Statue of Liberty and that last shot?! Stinking amazing! Perfect.

happygirl - Wow, what great shots. I haven’t been to the 9/11 monument yet. I can’t believe I wrote about 9/11 in my blog post today. Weird how things like that happen. I’m going to NYC in Feb. I’m sure all my shots will have a gray sky. 🙂

vicki - I am weak in the knees over Fishs Eddy. Oh love….

jan - Love your pictures of New York! My husband and I were there at the same time you guys were… we were visiting our oldest son who moved to the city in April. Like you, we visited the 9-11 Memorial. Our first trip to NYC was in December 2000… just a few months prior to that evil day. We have pictures of our boys on the top of the World Trade Center, so standing in that same spot was very sad. On a happier note…. where in the world is Fishs Eddy, and WHY did I not know about it??? I did find Anthro though… I do love their displays and styling! Thanks for sharing!

Cynthiaj - I discovered Fishs Eddy by accident in 1996, wandering in there while on a trip to NYC chaperoning the church youth group… I almost died, I loved it so. I’ve made an effort to go back on subsequent trips and have ordered stuff online. Should have known it would be right up your alley! (The store across the street, ABC Carpet and Home, used to be such a fabulous funky place, but it has gone seriously upscale and it’s no fun to visit anymore.)

Pamela Gordon - I am enjoying your posts on NYC. I am going there in November (not the nicest time of year) on a choir tour (we’re singing with a mass choir at Carnegie Hall!!!). I’ve never been there before so in seeing your photos I am getting excited. I will take photos of buildings too, and signs and people and fire escapes, because that’s what I’m interested in. We’re staying on Times Square! Woot!!! Thanks for sharing these awesome pics! Pamela

Dianne - Love your NYC pictures. Will visit Fishs Eddy if I ever get a chance to go there! Would love to see the t-shirt and hear more about your apartment arrangement. I have a large family and sometimes staying in a hotel isn’t a great fit for us. Our family drove through Kansas last week and stopped in Wichita for lunch. Pretty country – a lot like my Oklahoma, but nicer roads and amazing windmills and silos.

jill - Not to make you crazy jealous, but I work 3 blocks from Fishes Eddy. Then again I live in a 900 sq foot apt with no outdoor space, so every place has it’s ups and downs. I drool over the barn stores you get to go to! Anyway, even though I’ve been to Fishes Eddy many times, I really enjoyed seeing it through your eyes. I don’t think I’ve ever paid that much attention to the display cases, next time I go there, I will look at them and think of you. =)

Mindi - Oh I forgot to tell you yesterday in my comments, we are going to an Avett Brothers concert in Central Park while we are there! I think you like them, right? They are my husbands fav!

Kim - i have heard about this Fish’s Eddy place, and caught glimpses. but those mugs.
i need to book myself a flight to NYC just to get one.

Stephany - Thanks for sharing.
I would love to go to NYC someday.
I’ll definitely find Fishs Eddy,,,

seriously sassy mama - I must have the collanders. I love the pics of the city. I have never been to New York.

Shannon - great pics of New York and that store, Fish Eddy’s looks amazing! I’m sure I would spend way too much time admiring all their goodies

Juli - Years ago my two teen daughters and I were in NYC for a dance week. The two highlights: I got to take a dance class at the Alvin Ailey school, and our hotel was right around the corner from Fishs Eddy. I’d never heard of it before our visit–what a treat! Like you, I loved every single thing in the place.

Ashlyn@Pinecone - I love Fishs Eddy soooooo much. We are living in upstate NY now, and every time we go into the city I have to go there. It is always the issue of how much I want to walk around with all day though – so I usually get a new dish towel or something. Makes me happy ;))
Great photos!!!!!!! xo

angela - love love your blog (i’ve said it before) but this post. the 9/11 tribute, your words. Gosh, thank you so much for sharing!
i was in NYC (first.only) in july of 2003 – and the site was a hole – but very silent and moving….thank you for giving me a glimpse of what is there today.

Rochelle - What a fun trip! I’m reading a fascinating book right now about 9/11 called The Harbinger. It shows the relationship between the prophecy of Isaiah 9:10-11 and the events related to 9/11 in novel form. You should check it out!

KirstenP - What is the tall white building(or maybe it’s two tall white buildings connected to each other) with the wavy sides? It’s cool. It’s the photo above the one with the tall red metal sculpture.

Lacey - I’ve never even heard of Fishs Eddy but it looks like it’s going to be a new favorite. I see more city than I do corn fields in Atlanta. I was in Indiana two weeks ago and was blown away by barns, soy bean fields, and dirt roads and this week you are in the super city. It’s amazing how we all live in such different places. I love this world. Great pics!

Tiffany - Fishs Eddy is prolly like your barn shops jacked up on Mountain Dew for you. I love how they brought the barn to NYC though, love that. Very colorful vibrant shots of NY.

Terrie - I love all of your NYC photos. I’ve never been there and would love to go.
I would love to go to that shop! Oh.My.Goodnes.!! How did you get out without buying one of everything?!
And your photos of the 9/11 Memorial brought tears to my eyes.
Our family has a connection to one of the families…because our son wanted to donate to a family.
I blogged about our connection last year….still breaks my heart.
Someday, I want to go and pay my respects to the families who lost so much.
Thanks for sharing!!

Mandy - Fishs Eddy?? Oh my goodness!! How did I not know of this place? I could’ve have spent all day in there. I clicked on over to their site and I’ve already made my Christmas wish list!!!

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NYC

July 23, 2012 Filed in friends,just the two of us

last week craig and i got all our kids off to three different places 
and we hopped on a plane to New York City. 

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we were meeting chicago jen & dave for four days together.

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we ate at very fun places.

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it was dave's 40th birthday.
letterman's guests were Roseanne, audrey plaza and Jeff the brotherhood.
it was SO cool to see that show IN PERSON after watching it my whole life.
really cool.
dave had been working on tickets for months for us to get to come….thank you dave!!

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and we popped into the hello deli.

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times square.

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dinner at R Lounge overlooking times square….very fun!

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dessert at carnegie deli….cheesecake.
(sorry carnegie… pam's cheesecake is still better)

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we rented an apartment through vrbo.com so we could have our down time together instead of 2 hotel rooms.
it worked out well!
this is the view off the roof…pretty sweet.

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how do you feel when you look at that picture?
i wanted to go straight back to my little farm house and take a nap.
🙂
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i will share more pics tomorrow.
it was great to get away.
it was great to come back home.
and always so good to see our chicago friends.

 

add a comment

Yaz - I cannot believe you were in NYC…. I live a quick train ride away:) great pics

Kelly - So fun that y’all did this and great idea to stay in an apartment! love the dress as always! Kelly

Audrey - Beautiful pics!!! Could definitely use one of those milk glass cake stands, or one in every color! Heading over to their website now!
http://www.SpilledMilkStyle.com
A blog for stylish moms despite all the spilled milk!

Mindy Harris - megan that looks like a BLAST! i have never been to nyc but want to go so bad!

Jessica - I feel like I was right there with you. You are an a.ma.zing photographer Meg! I love all the pictures and can’t wait to see more!

laura b - That pic with all the cabs was CRAZY! I can’t even imagine. I haven’t been to NYC, but it’s on my bucket list. Can’t wait to see more photos!

Julia @the BackLoop - Awesome! I’m trying to get 3 days in NY to hang out with my sister before November. Once my little lady is completely weaned (we’re thiiiiiiiiis close) my husband has given me the green light to go to New York BY MYSELF!

Kori - NYC is my favorite. FAVORITE!! 😀

jeri - I wanted to go to NYC but after seeing those pictures of all those people I think I will stay in quiet Denver! Cool pics though.

Barbara - YAY Craig and Meg! So happy for you that you got to get away and celebrate with your friends! Looking forward to seeing more pics tomorrow.

Kristin S - Brilliant to rent an apt through VRBO! All I ever think of is the beach or the mountains for them. Brilliant!!!
Loved seeing your Instagram updates.

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - I love trips like that. Looks like you had a great time. I know what you mean, New York is such a fun place to visit, but wouldn’t want to live there 😉

Heather S. - I think I got hives from those photos! Ha! I’m a *live out in the county* kind of girl. I have found that I really like some cities, like San Francisco…but NYC just looks…well, dirty and cramped. I’m sure there is a lot of cool things to see and do, though. So glad you got to spend the time with friends. We are taking a 4 day trip to the Smoky Mountains with our best beds this fall. I’m REALLY looking forward to that!

Leslie Davison - We went to NYC in March, for the first time. We took the whole family. I just uploaded some of the pics to my facebook today, coincidence :). Looking at your pictures was fun! Thanks for sharing.

Mary - Looks fantastic! Will you share which vbro apartment you rented? We’re looking to do the same thing and would love a recommendation.

Kimberly Dial - I <3 NYC! One of my favorite places in the whole world! That pic made me wanna go ... and I can't ... and that makes me 🙁 How awesome that you got to visit spend time with your Chicago friends in the Big Apple. YAY you! Thanks for sharing ... I can't wait to see more.

Lisa - My only time visiting NYC was when I was 22 yrs old. A loooong time ago. 😉 Such a fun, crazy place to visit. But a bit of sensory overload! haha! Glad you had a getaway!

Lisa - An apartment instead of hotel…genius! Looks like a great vacation. Times Square looks like it was made for you – all that color! Thanks for sharing.

karen gerstenberger - I’m so happy that you got to make this trip with your sweetie and your good friends. Love the “Soup Nazi” – I mean, “Soup Man” photo (I hope you’re a Seinfeld fan and get that reference)!

Melanie - Glad you had a good time, but after seeing these pics of NYC, it only confirms my notion that I have absolutely NO desire to ever go there!
Hugs,
Melanie
(from the Chicago ‘burbs)

BriBedell - Looks awesome!!

kerry - Wowza’s what an awesome couple of days! You are such a cute couple – I’m coming over to NYC for my 30th next year.. can’t wait xx

Mindi - How fun! We just booked a trip to NYC for our 10 year anniversary! I am a small town girl too and I am a bit anxious when I think of being there but am so excited to get away with my man.
Would love to hear any tips or pointers and places to definitely not miss!

Christy - My home state woohooo!! I grew up on the Island with lots of trips into the city 🙂

seriously sassy mama - An apartment in the city is the way to go. I love the pics of the city. The pic of the traffic is excitement to me. I love all the business and colors.

Tiffany - WHATEVER! You were on the East Coast, hope it was good to you. A little grown up time never hurts.

Kae - I live in NY! Bummed I didn’t bump into you!! Love the photos as well….your photography just gets better & better!

Dani - I get all happy when I see pics of NYC. Years ago (before hubby and kids) that is where I wanted to be. Right in the middle of all the chaos! Now I look at my husband and three kids and realize I am right where God intended for me to be. Yes, I’d love to visit… just not live there!

shiela - luv nyc!

Paul - Wow! I’d love to visit New York one day!

Alicia @ La Famille - wow! that taxi picture gives me an anxiety attack!! i would love to visit there, but not to live. looks like a great time!

Lacey - Looks like such a great trip. I really want to go to NYC again soon. I haven’t been in such a long time. Looks crazy busy in most of those pics. Thanks for sharing I love all of the pictures you take.

aimee - oh, you were here! so close by! and how wonderful that you managed to take off together sans kids… that time alone is essential! glad you enjoyed your trip. xo

Jenna - I really do “love NY” … the pictures made me smile!

julie - So rad to get away. Especially with your best friends. The apartment is geniuse. Love vrbo.
New York stresses me out a little, (a lot) but someday I would love to go.

Sarah Wolfe - I went to college in downtown Chicago. Leaving my little country home, it was a little bit of a shock. But I grew to love the big city, and there’s a part of me that will always feel at home in a big mass of people. Never been to NYC, but want to some day 🙂 Great pics.

Dawn from Alberta - Love New York City and really love your perspective and photos. Thanks! What I really want to know is……did you buy one of those Statue of Liberty knickknacks?

happygirl - I <3 NYC so much. So cool you got to have a getaway time with friends. I couldn't have done the Letterman show. He makes me nuts. I love your pics. And I can't believe you have a cardigan on. Was it chilly? Fun fun fun.

Gina in Louisville - How on earth did you make arrangements for all of your kids for four days? I am amazed and honestly a little jealous. My husband and I need something like this so badly. We were planning a trip but had to cancel because of money but also the stress of placing the kids. We have two teenage boys. It seemed so much easier when they were younger. It was so easy to make them happy and going to the dollar store was an adventure.

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sunday/monday

June 19, 2011 Filed in just the two of us,random

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this is my FAVORITE dress of annie’s.
i love love love it.
it’s from target last year.
i wish it was in my size.
if you have any idea WHERE to buy that fabric please share.
i know it’s by Liberty of London and i doubt it’s available….but if it is…..tell me where.
it is just the best thing ever.

********holy cows it’s $28 a yard**************yikes.
thanks for looking for me girls.
i knew you’d find it for me.

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it makes me want to draw and paint.

i am going to make it into a craft thursday project.
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faker.

🙂

we see this face A LOT but this time it was fake.

………………………………………… 

sean and talby got home from camp.
they had a GREAT time.
thank goodness.
seriously.
i was so happy to see their faces!
sean took a huge box (like that you buy for a concession stand) of airheads candy to camp.
i told him if he found any rainbow ones in the box to save one because i really wanted to see them sometime!
he got home from camp and opened his suitcase and handed me this. (it’s a BIG package)

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i got excited and said “WOW!!! this was in that box???”  he said “no….i got it at the snack bar”
and i smiled and handed it back to him.
he said “mom…i got that for you.”
“for me? you spent your money at the snack bar on that for ME??”
“Well yeah mom…i knew you wanted them”

and then i wiped the tears from my eyes.

it’s so silly but i felt loved and validated and heard and proud all in that one sentence.

.………………………………………..

 

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this time it was scott who left for camp.
i feel completely different about that.
no worries at all.
he will have a BLAST.

 

add a comment

anonymous - My husband and I have three children and I was pregnant with the third when my husband had a vasectomy. I remember the doctor looking at us both and asking us if we were sure… “You don’t have this done thinking you can get it reversed one day.” That was 7 years ago.
Welllll…. lately I have felt as if somehow we have prevented children from being born that would have been ours, that God had planned to be ours. It has torn me up. Never would I have imagined seven years ago that I’d have these feelings…

Stephanie Howell - so much to say on this post.
1. i really think annie and sadie would be besties. they remind me lots of each other. including the hair and the faces. 🙂
2. you guys make such a good looking couple. if we lived closer i’d let you hold one of the twinsies to soothe your baby fever. i could use an extra “holding” pair of hands right about now. 🙂 after i had cate and lucy i did a blog post debating if we were “done” or not. i got SO many comments from women saying to WAIT until the hormones and exhaustion were gone. still debating…talking about adopting (shhh, you are one of the few people i’ve told that!)
3. i SO wish i could come to the crafting weekend. i’d be SO shy and starstruck…hahahahhah!

Jenn Thomas - London just saw Annie’s dress and said – “I want that dress, it is so pretty, maybe she will give it to me when it is too little for her” Very cute! Too bad the material is so expensive.

Wren - I completely understand, but in my case its the opposite. The Former Hubby had a vasectomy, but he wants more kids, now that our marriage has ended– I still don’t, but I do feel a bit bad for him.
I’m psyched for the grandkids in about…10-15 years 🙂

danielle burkleo - i love you, friend! and i am praying for you as your heart aches for another baby

april - You should definitely make a pillow out of that dress when Annie out grows it 🙂

Tracy Fisher - Just wanted to let you know that I get all the “baby talk”. I feel the same way. And I too believe God has fun plans for me. So, I say, get ready world… here I come… and I am going to be an awesome Grandma some day… okay, my kids are young… I mean some day in the future. haha. I love your honesty and big heart. Don’t ever change.
Tracy Fisher

Kimberly - Somebody might have already mentioned this but my Target had those rainbow sour candy strips in the dollar bins today. I bought a whole bunch of them. I saw someone make rainbow cupcakes with them on pinterest so I thought I’d try that. You might check your target on your next trip if you are wanting more. It was the first time I have ever actually seen them in person.

Amy jupin - The fake pouty pic of Annie is my most favorite ever.
I can hear her voice when I look at it, and it makes me happy.

shauna - you are a good mom and a good wife.
i think a boy that thinks about buying his mom a treat at camp is the sign of parenting and teaching gone right…
and i can tell you love your husband.
it shows on your blog.
no one who is married and honest with themselves thinks that a couple could EVER agree on all ideas about their families.
i like how you are honest about your feelings and not trying to present false same-ness, but very loving and respectful.
i appreciate that.

Lynne - I couldn’t place the fabric when I first saw it, but I actually had a wallet with it on it from Target last year. It was so bright and cheery and made me happy! I have moved on to a new one, and hopefully can find it to send to you!

Andrea@KnittyBitties - Hi Meg,
I was just going to tell you that Hobby Lobby (do you have one near you?!?) has a couple very ‘Liberty-ish’ prints. They stopped my sister & I dead in our tracks a few weeks ago and we could have sworn it was a ‘knock off’ of one of the prints they used in their Target line.
If you don’t have one let me know … I’ll take a pic while I’m there and hook ya up if ya want ;).
Happy Day!

heatherp - oh my goodness! he bought you candy while at camp…so not only did he think of you and know you wanted it, he was thinking of you while you were not with him. AND he spent his own money!! i would have cried too!!! so sweet!

Lisa - Sweet! I L-O-V-E Libery of London stuff. I love Sean’s gesture. Makes me want a son. I love being a little girl mom but there is something about a boy’s love for his mama. Precious.

james - her dress is so cute. i can’t believe the fabric is that much…wow.
so sweet of your son to remember you and even spend his money on you when it wasnt in his box. i can’t believe they let him take the candy. when i went to summer camp…well a while ago haha…we were not allowed to bring candy.
having another baby is an on going discussion with hubby and i. he doesnt want another infant. he would love to adopt a toddler though. now that i have a toddler i just want a baby and skip the toddler stage 🙂

mary - i want more babies. i have 4 sons age 5,4,3,1… i agreed and drove too. i had a 3 week old in the backseat. is this really agreeing?

Sarah @ This Farm Family's Life - You have some great kids!

Emily - I love your blog and tell everyone about it. It makes me so happy everyday. I actually had a dream last night that you hired me to be your nanny…but I didn’t do a very good job because I lost one of your kids! You do an amazing job 🙂 Now that summer has begun, I would love it if you did a blog post about your typical day. I wonder how you keep yourselves entertained all day long!

Deputy's Wife - When we had my step-daughter and two sons, my husband asked if it would be okay that we stopped there for children. I felt that there might be a possibility I would want more, but my husband rarely asks for anything. He is a “go along” kind of guy. For whatever reason, he felt that our family was complete and I thought so did I. (Two toddlers and a pre-tween girl, I was VERY tired too!)
One day, after drooling over a friend’s newborn baby, I asked God what his plan was. I knew my husband did not want anymore, but I wanted maybe one more. I asked Him how in the world could this be solved with both of us happy? Our answer came a year later. Jack took us REALLY by surprise. And in the end, we were BOTH head over heals happy and in love.
We both can’t imagine a moment without him. Now we are OFFICIALLY done. I can honestly say I have now more baby pangs. (I say this as middle child just tackled youngest child on the hardwood floor. Sigh.)

Vonda - I love Annie’s dress! I actually have a shirt from Target in that same fabric! I missed most of that line when they got it in and I was very upset with myself! They had the best lampshades too. My daughter also has a very cute shirt from that line. I too wish we had talked a little more about having more kids. We have 4 wonderful children, and when the youngest was about 6 months it was crazy busy and we decided we had our 3 amazing boys and adorable baby girl and a flower shop with my Mom and a dairy farm and life was way too busy to add any more! Little did I know that we would be moving off the farm and closing the flower shop both a few years later! Then when it’s quiet you have time to think. I have a lot to be thankful for, but I do so love newborns!:)I love your blog and I so wish I could go to your craft weekend!

Jenna - Very sweet things you say about your hubs. I always try to be careful how I make mine look too. But, sometimes I just open my big mouth and make him look like an idiot when really it’s me. oops 🙂
Jenna

Flower Patch Farmgirl - 1. You and I both know the real reason you went to see Super 8….
2. Adopt a baybayyyyyyyyyyy! Our social worker just told us about the monumental demand for families to adopt AA newborns. It’s a big, big need. Maybe Mr. Duerksen just wasn’t aware that there was such a need??? That’s what I think. Because I know the two of you SO well.

alice h - I loved Super 8 also! We actually got to go see it for FREE 2 days before it came out. And I thought to myself that I wouldn’t like it and I loved it. I also agree with the kids swearing. I don’t like that or when they smoke/drink or do you know. Young kids (even actors acting) shouldn’t be exposed to that.

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Love her dress. Wanna sell it to me when she outgrows it? My K would love it:) It reminds me of a vintage sheet-you could totally sew/make yourself a dress from one(a clean one obviously)if you found the right one!
xo

Kirsten P - Maybe you’ll have to get http://www.spoonflower.com to recreate the beautiful sunflower fabric for you. OR write a personal letter to Liberty of London and attach a photo of Annie in her dress and suggest they make a mom’s dress!

Kelley - I have a shirt from Target with the same fabric as Annie’s dress that I bought last year. I keep waiting for Liberty to release a new line at Target so I can find more cool shirts or dresses in fabulous fabric. I wonder how long they will make us wait. It’s not right.
Glad you had such a great date night now with Craig!

Jamie - A DATE. Hubba! Hubba!
I too shed a tear over the rainbow Air Heads. I am extra sensative today because my handsome boy turns 5-TODAY! He is very thoughtful and would probably do the same.
Took your rainbow cake idea and made cupcakes for him today. He was THRILLED! I wasn’t sure if rainbow cupcakes are hip when you turn 5 and are a boy, but it was. THANKS for the inspiration.

Joy - Meg,
Thank you SO much for saying that you wish you had waited and made the decision when your mind was clearer! I have said that a million times. I feel like we were pushed into the decision after 2 preemies and my mind was not thinking clearly either. It was sleep deprived, crashing from a long hospital stay, crazy from the beeps of a heart monitor, apnea monitor and an oxygen machine. I would have never have decided that if my head had been clear. I think they should tell couples to wait at least 9 months before making the decision. Just sayin’…

Jessica kiehn - ok I would absolutely cry if my son said that to me. just think of his sweet little mind, busy with friends at camp, and then thinks of his momma at home and that she mentioned liking something and then BUYING IT FOR YOU! it just doesn’t get any sweeter.
also, nothing you could say could make Craig look bad to me! he’s obviously such a good husband and dad. not enough of those in the world today…

jen - I too love that dress, when she out grows it, I think it should become a pillow! As for the snip snip, I know EXACTLY what you are saying my hubby was sooo against having that area cut on, and with my 4th pregnancy nearing it’s end and me having to be monitored for pre term labor, because as the dr. so kindly put it “my shocks were shot” I begged him to get a vasectomy… He agreed so when I was 8 1/2 months pregnant he did it… Ended up having a TERRIBLE experience not numbing on one side and then passing out due to PAIN… Ooops TMI? and to this VERY day I REGRET that choice… My baby will be 9 this year, I think it took… DARN… When I ask if he would consider a reversal, you can imagine the “look” I get…

Ashley B. Chandler - A little girl wore that dress yesterday at church and I fell in love with it all over again! As soon as I saw your first photo with it (in this blog post) I knew what it was. Just yummy!!!! I have no idea why I didn’t buy it for my daughter last year! Maybe it didn’t come in toddler sizes? Maybe they ran out of it? Hmmm… serious regret now.
That story ab Sean and the airhead brought tears to my eyes! That is the best sort of feeling.
Also, I just adore your blog, you, your kids…. Everytime I look at my SUMMER MM mag I think “My friend is in this!” and then I remember you are only my virtual friend. But, I do think of you as my friend.

casey - I LOVE the fabric of her dress and oh how cute is she!! and I’m glad you mentioned super 8 because I want to see that this week!

Necole - I feel the same way about wanting another baby, but I am the one that got fixed because I knew it was the best thing for our family. Anyway, we would probably have another girl, which would make four girls, and my sweet husband does not deserve that torture. lol

Amy - I am so excited about craft weekend!!!! Is it sad that I just sent my oldest 2 off with my parents for a few days and I plan on entertaining my 2 y/o at home so I can stalk the craft blog….I mean, be ready for noon registration?!?! I could be accomplishing lots w/o two extra kiddos…instead I’m setting timers so I’m not a minute late. 😉
By the by, my last date night was a rushed dinner followed by a trip to Lowe’s. We’re just 2 wild & crazy kids.

Sugar Mama - My husband and I made the “decision” in the EXACT same way. We had recently moved from NC to IA and I had just had our third child… I was 23. WAY too young to make a decision for no more children, but at the time we were just exhausted (and broke) ;o)
Now that I’m in my 30’s and I have a child graduating from highschool in a few years I’m sad about our decision. I changed my mind a few years back, but the husband never did. And that’s okay. I do daycare in my home to get my baby fix.

staci amy - I love date nights and getting to just be”us”!!!! More importantly….I am so bummed bc I won’t be able to put my name on the list for craft weekend =( we will be in the plane flying home from Philly =( ugggghhh!!!! Do you KNOW how sad I am about that?? But I would be more sad if me trying to use my cell phone to post a comment made the the airplane crash =( sooooooo….I am just hoping this will be the first of many craft weekends!!! Can’t wait to see who gets to come! Good luck everyone!

elz - In the same boat as you with th ebaby- we both made the decision. In fact, I forced him to go. But now, well…there are times I REALLY want another baby…
I loved the Girls Liberty for Target stuff so much last year that I bought that dress in a blue for ME! I got the largest size and wear it all the time. It’s super stretchy! I’d suggest searchign eBay and waiting for the dress to pop on sale and see if you can patchwork something together.

Shauna - I thought that was you and your husband…Noah and I were on a date of our own. We were driving by and you were crossing the street. I saw craig and was like, I know him from somewhere…I looked over and saw you and it hit me! I leaned over to Noah and said Thats Meg! The gal that took our pictures last year!
you both looked quite lovely!!!

Lela Pohlmann - I understand the baby issue far too well. I have a 12 year old and an 8 year old and secretly wish I had another. My second child had a horrendous case of colic and we both decided we were done when he was a baby and hubby had the procedure done. There are days I wish I wouldn’t have been so hasty!

Shana - saw the dress in church yesterday and loved it.
swear i had the same pattern on something as a kid – maybe it was my mom’s wedding dress! ha.

heidi @ wonder woman wannabe - we saw super 8 just before the weekend. we had pretty much the same reaction you did – esp. comparing the ‘feel’ to that of goonies/ET/signs. we also thought it was GREAT!
my hubby ‘did the deed’ this spring to ensure our family will not be growing biologically. i’ve got my hands FULL at this point in time and my pregnancies were really hard (VERY sicky) :/ and our 2nd born was sooo very colicy that those few issues combined were pretty good birth control – ha!
just think, one day all those beautiful kids of yours will be filling your arms with multitudes of grand-babies! I’m counting on both my boys giving me plenty of girls to dote on one day! 🙂

Lauren - Not sure if anyone would have that specific fabric, but True Up has a really nice source guide for Liberty of London fabrics: http://www.trueup.net/liberty-of-london-fabrics-source-guide/
Hope you find it!

shelly - You guys are Wild—our dates usually end up being chipolte and groceries!
Our oldest bought me a birthday present at camp…seriously…like a really cool book…I’m shocked! (But not as shocked as I was that he didn’t blow all his money the first day!!! I’m sending candy next time–Genius idea!!!)
I totally understand the baby thing. The ol’ snip snip was my valentine’s day present after our youngest was born…get it V-Day–too funny!!! Now I just want someone to hold..who Neeeeeds me…and that baby smell! (Although I hate being pregnant..puke all 9 months..I’d adopt or foster or something!). But…my hub says No more babies…even though I SEE that twinkle in his eyes when he holds a baby…he thinks he’s so tough 😉

Katie - After having a 4 and 2 year old my Auntie had twins. My Aunt and Uncle decided to have surgery to not have any more children, she was 34. She said she ached for a baby until she was 45…but she knew it was the right decision. She is the best Auntie…always willing to watch anyone’s children, even now at 60!
We know you love your husband and it shows even more wanting to just “make sure” we all know the story. It is my most favorite thing about you that you love and respect your man!!!! What an example for all of us! Even though marriage is hard at times for everyone you really inspire me to love and pursue and cherish and respect my husband more! Thank you!

linda anderson - the story about sean brought tears to MY eyes!! he is such a sweet boy…
🙂 linda

Kim - I feel the exact same way with our baby situation. I have three beautiful children that I love with all of my heart…but that is all I will have because we had the same procedure. While my head knows is a good decision for our family..I don’t think my heart will ever get on board…so my youngest is just going to have to deal with the fact that I am going to want to still carry him on my hip when he is a teenager…..;)

Holly - Sounds like a good movie! Love Annies little dress!

Secret Mom Thoughts - I can’t wait to see Super 8. Love that dress too. Cute photo of you and the Mr.

leigh - if annie were littler you could make her cute pillowcase dresses…have you heard of them? you could probably get some super cute prints in those. target doesnt have anything from LoL anymore- it was a limited thing :(:(

happygirl - I wanted to adopt and my husband didn’t. I really think you can’t pressure someone into more children, especially an adopted child. I know God is big enough to handle this. <3

Kimberly Dial - I’m so glad you were able to have a night out with “Craiggers”. Some times we seriously need some alone time to reconnect! BTW, I didn’t sense any hubby bashing at all. When you’re a natural nurturer that’s what happens … we would love to fill houses with precious babes if our hubbys didn’t say “whoa, wait a minute”! 🙂

Kimberly Dial - I’m so glad you were able to have a night out with “Craiggers”. Some times we seriously need some alone time to reconnect! BTW, I didn’t sense any hubby bashing at all. When you’re a natural nurturer that’s what happens … we would love to fill houses with precious babes if our hubbys didn’t say “whoa, wait a minute”! 🙂

Jen - I think this is it, no? I love that fabric too 🙂 Also love that you had a wonderful date night! http://www.fabric.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=3479e766-83f4-4fc8-9305-203654f4d60e

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - Hi Meg, I wish I could sign up tomorrow for your craft weekend. I live way too far away and I really don’t do much crafting so I guess that would be silly of me. The being together with other bloggers and meeting you would be super fun, but hard to justify a craft weekend for someone like me that doesn’t make anything and has 2 of the 3 kids in college and lots of bills to pay. Good luck tomorrow…hope everything goes super well.

georgia - I don’t think anyone would ever think you would be bashing craig about anything online, your so in love its sweet. 🙂

Kat - Aww bless that beautiful Sean.
One of those simple, yet magical parenting moments.
Hm, date night must be an American tradition, as I see very little of it here amongst my friends (and myself) who are married with young children.
Mind you that does not mean we don’t need to be going on dates with our Husbands, because I am more than a little envious of that time you had!!
Gorgeous dress.

Elizabeth - Meg,
This line you wrote made me laugh so hard…
“i was freaked out and squeezing craig’s hand so hard.
and at one point i jumped so big i hurt a muscle in my leg….not kidding.”
My boy took me to see Super 8 on Saturday night as well, and there were moments during the movie that made me jump so hard that I actually injured myself. I told him afterward (while he was laughing at me) that at one point I actually managed to pull a muscle in my chest.
I thought I had a broken rib, Meg.
THANK YOU for writing this and making me feel less stupid! x

Terrie G - We almost went to see Super 8 this weekend. We got rained out of mini-golf & go-karts instead. 🙂

Leah - I hear you on your date night. It’s a BIG night for us when we go to dinner AND a bookstore. I know, hold us back!

jennibell - “it’s so silly but i felt loved and validated and heard and proud all in that one sentence.” PERFECT. It’s times like that that you know you’ve done a “good job”. That it’s all going to be o.k. My 12-yr-old was at soccer camp (day camp) every day last week. On the last day, when I went to pick him up, he was concerned about getting a t-shirt for his friend that had an out-of-town family death on Wednesday and wasn’t able to finish the camp. Then, he spent 15 minutes in an over-grown field looking for a friend’s soccer ball that had been kicked back there after the friend had left. I was so proud of him, looking out for his friends like that. I’m glad God gives us “sneak peeks” like this every-now-and-again. . .it’s what we need to continue the race, yes?

alicia @ la famille - hey ms. meg. i have to say i thought super 8 was an icky, creepy, killing show…but signs and et?! that sounds good!
and way to rock it on the eddie bauer AND super 8.
you two are crazy!! 🙂 haha!!
glad your kiddos made it home from camp, too!

Amber - Hi there! I looove your blog! I have a 2 yr old and a 3 mo old and it makes me so look forward to the days to come! Your children are beautiful!
Also….Liberty of London fabrics are now at fabric.com!! I just did a quick search and didnt see annies dress fabric…but there might be something similar.

sam - Now that I look at it, it’s not as bright as Annie’s dress. Sorry. 🙁

Amber - Ok you have thoroughly convinced me on seeing super 8! And seriously that dress is awesome! When she grows out of it you must make a few pillows from the fabric!

Jennifer - Way cute dress! I sure wish they had them in our size, too. 🙂
And best wishes (and hugs) to you Meg with regard to the whole wanting another baby. I can understand how the heart can yearn so deeply for a child that it literally hurts. My hubby and I have never been able to have children of our own and we have been trying to adopt a second child for over 4 years now. It has been a long and difficult road…and yes, at times, it has left my husband and I at different sides of the fence. As much as he would love for us to have more children, it is difficult for him to watch my heart get broken when an adoption doesn’t work out. So much that I think he would probably be okay if I one day decide to just walk away from the adoption journey. I think he would be okay with us just being a family of three. But for me, I just can’t seem to bring myself to let go of my dream to be the mother to more children (just yet).
A loving God will tell your heart and mind what is right for you and your family, I’m sure of it. 🙂
Hugs to you…
jennifer

Talysa - Fabulous pic…love written all over it. Oh and I’m digging your hair. You cut it right?

Julia - Thanks for the movie rec’. Do you think a 5 yr old could handle it?
I lurve that pic of A. Scowls are so cute!

Sharla - Love that dress and fabric! Seriously, I look at so many little girl clothes and wish they were in my size. And I’m not being silly – I seriously think, “WHY don’t they make that in my size?!”
Love the story about the airheads – I hope my kids think of me sometimes . . . and I know they will. Sometimes I just wonder if that day will come.

Amanda - The story about Sean made me so happy. I know that feeling and it IS something to be proud of because you raised him to think of others that way! It’s a beautiful quality in a person!

deb meyers - oh yeah, super 8 was good : ) and a mashup of ET and Goonies and Signs, just like you said, that’s what we said in the car on the way home! Only we added Close Encounters to the mash. Though why all Spielberg’s boys have to potty-mouth ? …they could pass on that, please.

Short, Sweet Season - That picture of Annie rocking her baby…so awesome and beautiful. I love it!

Holly Cox - I live in Dayton, so I’m quite psyched to see Super 8!

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thursday.

February 17, 2011 Filed in crafts & art,just the two of us

as in craft thursday.

i looked through the deep space sparkle website looking for something colorful.
i found it.

remember this book?

A-color-of-his-own-leo-lionni-cover

 
its cute.
and colorful.

we read the book and then we made our own chameleons.

first we drew a big chameloen….then outlined it with sharpie or oil pastel (but right now we are out of oil pastels)

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IMG_8033
 
after it was drawn….it was time to paint.
we used our favorite watercolors.

each of them made their chameleon have "a color of his own"….all colors.

IMG_8032
 
IMG_8035
 
IMG_8037
 
IMG_8042
 
IMG_8051
 
after they dried completely we cut them out and glued them to construction paper….makes them POP!

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IMG_8108

IMG_8109

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this project made me really happy.
happy to see smiley chameleons with curly tails….good stuff.

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and last but not least…..danielle asked me to participate in her february series of "love stories".
if you'd like to see our really lovely wedding pic in 1994……
you can read it here.   

 

 


add a comment

Lauren - Your love story is amazing, Meg! The fact that your love story started so young and is still going this many years later (and is stronger), well, that is just inspiring 😉 Thanks so much for sharing with us!

Michelle - Wow, we have very similar stories. Your words are so well put. My hubby and I just celebrated 14 years of marriage last week. We have been together since I was a Sophmore, he was, and is still, my only boyfriend. I found out I was pregnant in August after I graduated high school. I was 17. A painfully sad time in my life. Such a change of plans in our lives, and my parents not supporting our marriage- they didn’t even attend our wedding, its nothing short of a miracle that we are still together and loving each other more today than ever. We have in a sense grown up together, and changed in so many ways, God has definitely kept us together through it all.
Anyhow, I just wanted you to know, that I have loved your blog since the day I found it. I appreciate your honesty, and am glad to hear someone else say the things I feel. Raising kids, a daughter who in so many ways is more like my sister because of our ages, is tough. Your blog is such a happy place, even on the bad days their is a rainbow around somewhere 🙂

Vonda - Meg you and your family are awesome. I don’t know if there is a perfect love story. I think some sound that way, but we all have things we go through…some things we think we would change, and then we look at what we have and smile! 🙂

Val - Your response to JR’s comment was perfect. It’s what I would expect…I love your blog. Live life happy…that’s what it’s all about…can’t let those that aren’t get you down. Thanks for the happy reads.

Val - Hi Meg,
I tried to email you, but I can’t get it to work! I had a question about your Africa pictures. I was hoping you wouldn’t mind if I used some of them for a school presentation on malnutrition in Africa. I will have a resource page with your blog name to credit the pictures to you’re okay with me using some of them.
Thanks! Please email me back if you are okay with it!
(P.S. I’ve been a loyal blog reader for over a year and love it!)

Sugar Mama - Meg, We have even more in common now than I ever thought before. I read your “love story” and mine is about the same except I got pregnant while in highschool. It was scary… and not what I ever expected for my life at the time.
And the chameleons? Love them!

Susan Freeman - John Rambo came to my blog too and left an ugly comment. I posted about it today. I hope that you will come to visit my blog and read my post in praise of American Women. This is my first time to your blog and I am glad that I found you, despite the fact that it was under such distasteful circumstances. Your post is so charming and what great fish your kids created!! Love your blog and will return often.
Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Karen - Meg;
I have been reading your posts for a few months now, and you are great because I can always count on you for a lift in spirit and a reminder of how great life really is. That is such a gift that you have to be able to inspire so many people in that way.
I just read your love story, and I found it so touching and real and beautiful. Thankyou for sharing something so personal. I guess that’s why I read your blog. You give us all yourself. Thanks.

Heather R. - Love the pictures. Rainbow chameleons make me happy, too. 🙂

Lisa - Ok, now have to go read your love story, sound wonderful.
p.s. I got a comment on my blog once that was rude and nasty, only unfortunatley it wasn’t a spammer, it was my EX husband!! lol!!! notice emphasis on the “EX”!! He and Mr. Rambo would probably love each other, hehe!!
Thanks for always putting a smile on my face, I never miss a post from you 🙂

Carol S - Darn, those turned out cute! I must be too old to know that kids book though. Hungry Hungry Caterpillar I recall which was similarly colorful?

jen - Yep. You got spammed Meg.

Jilly - Leo Lionni and Eric Carle are favorites at our casa…even though they are all teenagers!

amanda - Ladies, don’t you get it? John Rambo is using classic reverse psychology. Now none of us “American women” can stop thinking about him and with a name like “Rambo” you know he must be a hottie! jk, I get comments like that a lot in the “spam”, though they are mostly about owning my own business or finding a mail order bride, none quite as interesting as Mr.Rambo, aka, Rocky 1,2,3,4,5 and 6. 🙂

nic - make that irresisIble. spelling, shmelling.

nic - ah, art projects like these make my heart sing. (do you paint alongside your kids? because i would totally be making my own curly-tailed chameleon right here. irresistable.)

Valerie @ Chateau A La Mode - I love your love story. God is good isn’t He!

alyssa - wow. I loved your love story. you did so good! so honest. so God-honoring. I think you should repost it here.

sara's art house - LOVE the chameleons!!!! I will def copy this..

merlin - Now, this is a craft that I might be able to do (if you provide the chameleon template), so perhaps you could add it to your list of craft projects for the crafting weekend.
Maybe you could have a crafting weekend just for the non-crafty readers, I read through the 800+ comments and was relieved to know I am not the only one.
Yes, your mission could be to gather the lost and uncrafty souls and encourage us, the others already know how 🙂 We NEED you.

Courtney Walsh - Do you ever almost dip your paintbrush in your coffee instead of the paint water?
I noticed the coffee cup right in the thick of it and remembered the time I did just that. lol 🙂
Love these!! They are sooo cute!

Lauren - Meg your love story brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for sharing what God can do even through the tough…not so pretty….situations in our lives.

Aimee - Rambo seems like a spammer…I doubt he’s even read your blog. Twerp. 😉
Thank you for sharing your love story…I love hearing it, especially because it’s not “typical.”

Laura Phelps - I’m doing this project RIGHT NOW
seriously
now
after I make some coffee

Holly Cox - Hey Meg….
If you ever actually speak with John Rambo, not that you’d want to, You can tell him that I said {{really loud}}:
SOME MYSTERIES SOLVE THEMSELVES!
If he’s ever experienced any of his complaints about American Women, his attitude makes it very clear as to why he would have been treated that way. 🙂 Just a thought!
<3 Holly C.

Juliann - Megan – awesome love story! You did a great job sharing that; being vulnerable and honest. YOU ARE GREAT!!
also, I would love to see a guest post by Mr. Duerksen to John Rambo as to why American women are great 🙂

Lorie S. - I just saw your blog yesterday and am in love with it. I am so inspired. I sometimes get down on myself for being a stay at home mom and do I really make a difference??? And the answer is YES!!!!! What would happen to our homes if there wasn’t the mom to hold it together. I look forward to ready tomorrow.

Emily Zimmerman - Hi Meg!!! Love love love your blog!!! When I saw your post about not being able to host 870 people for a craft weekend, I thought you were exaggerating. Then I scrolled down and saw 871 comments on your post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!! You are so loved!!!!!

Phebe Roberts - Hi Meg,
Don’t know if you remember me but I was the one who forwarded the vid. Asian pineapple cutting! 🙂 Anyways, just wanted to share what you and lovely fam. inspired my 5yo son to accomplish this morning. You can see it here http://blossombucket.blogspot.com/2011/02/inspired-to-paint.html
Thanks a zillion + some

Janine - This is a great idea. And it’s educational too since it goes along with reading a book. I may do something like this next week when I have to watch my nieces & nephew.
I enjoyed reading your love story. So sweet.
Oh and the John Rambo thing – what strange spam! I missed it yesterday.

Lori in Iowa - Wow. It was refreshing to read such an honest and inspiring love story. My own love story has a twisted road but at the end was something amazing.
Thanks for the honesty.

Heather - Love the chameleons! Love your love story! Love your blog! John Rambo has some major issues, but it was great laugh. Wonder where he meets his American women for him to have those views!!?

Paula Montalvo - Meg, John obviously hasn’t read your blog AT ALL. If he did he would realize that you are a great Wife, Mother, Cook, and cute to boot! In a nutshell……….He’s off his bloody rocker!!! It was a good laugh though at how nutty people can be. Love the chameleons and the great rainbow colors! Blessings <3 Paula

happygirl - Thanks for not deleting the “funny” comment. I LOVE the colors. They really brightened my day today. And I needed some brightening. <3

Leah - I loved your love story! And you know what? It’s REAL. Real life. Sometimes I think there’s too much romatic fantasy out there. And those couples who have that, end up not working out (not all … just some). What works is what’s real. Like your story. Thank you!

Candy - Meg-I just read your love story and it brought tears to my eyes. I can see the love in your eyes and your husbands. It is such a sweet thing. I love how God can take something, that at the time, we feel, will destroy us, and make it something awesome and wonderful! Thank you for sharing your story, it spoke to my heart.

Terrie - Megan – Love your chameleons!! Wish I was one of your kids!! Or you had been my mom!! I LOVE crafts! I also LoVeD your LOVE story!!! I had tears for you…for what you didn’t have and tears for me…because I was a child of such a beginning…only my mom wasn’t like you. I didn’t get to do crafts, she barely let me in the kitchen…unless it was to do the dishes. I was told I wasn’t wanted…so I applaud you & Craig…for making a family centered on HIM. Your story blesses me like you will never know. I love that the two of you chose LOVE & family even when it was hard! I LOVE our God & that HE has BLESSED your family! I too am Blessed beyond measure…only through Him have I been able to overcome and be a better mother than the example I had. You, Meg, are a wonderful example to your readers!

Jen - Awesome book! My daughter’s preschool teacher asks that in lieu of bringing treats for the students, each child provide a book for the classroom on his/her birthday. My daughter chose this book and we are just about to order it. I will have to have her do this craft as well (she will LOVE it)… gearing up for her *rainbow* birthday party. Yahoo for rainbows!

Karen Gerstenberger - This posting (about your marriage) is one of the many reasons I love your blog…you are REAL about life and REAL about God. Thank you for being MEG, every day, and not putting on airs or trying to be someone else. The world needs MEG – God clearly saw that and made you! May His love continue to bless you and your family. xoxox

Heather - I went and read your story and came back to say IT IS AWESOME all that God can accomplish when we give ourselves and our relationships to Him! It makes me think of “At the Foot of the Cross”, when we sing “now I can trade these ashes in for beauty”. I LOVE that. I feel like I’m still learning that, every day. Thanks for sharing the testimony of your marriage. 🙂

lauren - i personally am just really hoping his real name is john rambo. because that would pretty much make my day. 🙂

Lisa - Beautiful story! Thanks for sharing.

Gevay - Love the crafts! Your love story is beautiful God is amazing and faithful! Thanks for sharing it.

Danielle - Bwahahaha! What do you want to bet John just got dumped by an American woman:)

sara @ it's good to be queen - love this fun colorful craft. How the heck do your water colors stay so nice and clean??? is it because you have girls? or do you wipe them out each time? after one use, ours look crazy…colors mixed, paint all over the whole container, etc.
okay, now i’m off to find john rambo’s comment and read your love story….

Amy - Just read your love story…truly heartfelt. A romantic proposal does not necessarily lead to a healthy marriage. To me a, good marriage is built on love, respect, tenacity, and faith. It isn’t important how you got there. I very much enjoy your blog and appreciate your story. Happy Thursday to you!!

Sarah @ Handbags*N*Pigtails - Ah Fooey on “John Rambo.” This is obviously a person who’s got some issues.
I love your crafty Thursdays. You’ve inspired me to get more involved with my girls, make a mess, and not worry about it! Kids are meant to be kids not perfect robots. And you know what? Im having fun letting loose right along with them. Who knew Id been missing out for so long?;)
XO

Lori H - John Rambo’s comment has appeared in another blog I read, Jen On the Edge. He obviously has too much time on his hands, and thinks any one of us cares! 🙂

Ashley - Some people just like to spam perfectly wonderful blogs. He did give a good crack up to so many, though.
Love the chameleons! I’ll try it here this weekend (or even while trying to cook tonight.)
Off to read your love story!

Angie M - Love your story. Thank you for sharing. I find it hard to share my stories. One day……

RLG - I’ve seen that same post (by John Rambo) on another blog.
Don’t take it personally. Some people are just freaks.
xoxo

Flower Patch Farmgirl - I got the same comment yesterday! ???
I like this project.
I like the title even more.

Elissa - john rambo is …….yup….somethin. i like “jerusalem’s” response though. made me laugh. as always, love your your blog and the stuff you share….

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh my heavens. I remember a while ago when you were answering questions, posted your wedding pic and mentioned that you would share your story some day.
Wow. Meg, you are truly beautiful. Thank you so very much for sharing your story. Really. Your family is beautiful.
Our God is so amazing.

Hannah - megan-love your story! i have a slightly similar one…except my guy didn’t stay..and THAT was absolutely god’s blessing…and so is my daughter…we met my husband when she was only one and he adopted her…as she used to say…”we found daddy together…god sent him to us” 🙂
god’s forgiveness is amazing! 🙂

BULLYMAMA - I think the title of your blog is the perfect response to his comment “Whatever”!! Clearly it had nothing to do with you as you don’t even fit into any of the catagories he listed…bizarre and his post was at 3 something a.m. one only can imagine what else was going on with him at hour!!

karen - I think Rambo dude wants to boycott American women because they have already done so with him. HA! Good Riddance!
Great chameleons!
I bought some water colours yesterday..but found no doilies. The hunt is on.

Patty - What great looking chameleons! I just want to know one thing: how do you keep the watercolor pans so darn clean? Thanks for linking.
Patty (Deep Space Sparkle)

Shana - oh! you tricked me with your crazy title for this post!
darn crafts.
but – they are very cute & your story is awesome.

Sarah - thank you fore sharing your love story…a needed reminder that God takes our messes and makes them beautiful. We ALL make bad choices (even as 30-somethings)…the consequences are rarely easy to walk through…only our God could take even them and use them for HIS glory. He is such a GOOD GOD!

Joy - Oh Meg, that was a beautiful love story. Love is hard. You did a good job!

Gabrielle - Meg, I started following your blog when I found its link on We Are the Friesens (I’m a friend and former co-worker of Sarah’s). I too enjoy your crafts, family stories, and sense of humor – but your love story was what made me actually drop you a note. It is wonderful on every level.

Juli - “John Rambo” is most likely the pseudonym of a person who’s a little…unhinged. Why don’t you just take that rant off your “Comments” list? It has nothing to do with your lovely blog, or your lovely self, or any of the lovely women you know.

Heather - I had to go back to read John Rambo’s comment. You know what I have to say about that?
(wait for it…)
Whatever!

Tiffany - Meg Said: God took our two little broken lives that we dedicated to HIM and made beauty from the ugliness we began with.
And Tiffany’s heart just stopped. I got so choked up in it. What a beautiful story. Im gonna ask my husband to read it too.

Karen H. - Snort! Laughing at Hoosier at Heart’s comment!!!

Tiffany - Really John Rambo. Really. Ur readers really rock though, right. I’m off to read ur luv story 🙂

Karina - I sure hope John isn’t coming to Canada any time soon.
Beautiful chameleons! The colours are so uplifting.

Jessica - I just read the John Rambo comment. Bahahahahahaha…totally cracking up right now.
Did I ever tell you that you are my favorite blogger?
Well, you are.
🙂
Have a great day!

purejoy - oh my gosh. i feel like i owe you an apology. i’m pretty much sure that is my brother bob, masquerading as john rambo. that is exactly the kind of rant he makes. completely unrelated to any kind of context to a situation.
my brother, i’m afraid, is john rambo. i don’t know how he found your blog. seriously… does he just blog hop and paste his “thoughts” in every one he comes across??
on another note, completely captivated by your creative prompts and your childrens’ willingness to participate. what a fun activity. makes me want to make my own!

Dawn - Love the chameleon craft! I’ll have to do that with my kids on their next snow day, since I’m sure there is bound to be more!

Katie Sellers - Thanks for sharing your love story!

pam - I love to start my days with your COLORFUL world. So thankful you know the One who redeems all our messes….we all have them. The Duerksen love story may not have started as you wished but I think it’s beautiful up to this point…
As for John…thank God American women are safe!

Lydia S - I read your love story. It made me cry… at work…
I love reading your blog and I’ve never commented before, but I just want you to know that I feel like we are friends (albeit one sided). I just got married this year, and we don’t have any kids yet, but someday I hope I can be as great a mom as you! Laundry piles and all! Thanks for all that you share.
And I really do hope you do a craft weekend. I would be there and we could be real-life friends!

Tracey @7294cottageway.blogspot - Love that project!

Jenny Logan - Those chameleons are adorable!
I loved your love story! You can tell how much you love your husband & family. It made me smile. =)

colleen - Sweet Meg, i lovely love your love story 🙂 Immediately thought of Revelation 21:5 “He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said “Write this down for these words are trustworthy and true.” Isn’t it just like our precious Lord to make our ugly,sinful,dead mistakes; new? Thanks for “writing it down!” you blessed me this morning!

Shannon - Sounds to me like John is doing American women a favor!

Erin Ward - Love it! And love that book. Might have to steal that idea for my classroom. 🙂

Ginny - I just read your love story and it touched me and gives me hope because it reveals the same feelings I have. Just 3 years ago I never would have guessed I would be with a one year old and married. I also have longed for the romantic proposal the lavish wedding that took months and months to plan. All the excitement that builds up with the planning. But at the same time I am happy where I am and what it has brought me and know that God has had his hand on my little family and has brought us and will bring us wherever we are meant to go. Before I felt alone in my feelings because I don’t know any who has felt the same, so to read your story made me not feel so alone. I just wanted to say Thank you. 🙂

Hoosier at Heart - Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, I wonder what John looks like. I’m too afrid to check out his blog. I am happy that you left his comment there for everyone to read and didn’t delete it, what a hoot! Gotta go now, it’s getting late and I need to go get fat and cheat on my husband.

Beth @ Dirty laundry - Hi Meg,
I LOVE your blog. I am constantly inpired by you. I finally decided to try one of your crafts and blogged about it here:
http://wolfepack129.blogspot.com/2011/02/feeling-crafty-yet-grumpy.html
I love the chameleons! I’ve been thinking about doing a craft based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which would involve doing a lot of finger painting, letting the fingerpainted pics dry, then cutting apart pieces of them and gluing them together to make a picture. I bet you could do this (I will probably get to it sometime next winter…)
Beth

Beth from odd girl out. - First, John Rambo is an arse.
Second, those chameleons are awesome.
The end.

julie f. - Megan,
You wrote your love story amazingly! What a testament to God and how he has used a “broken” situation and redeemed it into something SO beautiful. You have a beautiful family and God-honoring marriage. Thank you for that example!!

Alysa - what i LOVED was lori in iowa’s comment after Rambo’s comment. too hilarious.
oh, and the cameleon’s – great, fun, easy project. we might pull that book off the shelf and do that today … after all, it’s thurdsay. =)

Shivaun - We should probably warn those foreign girls about Mr. Rambo.

Jenny Joy - I love the chameleons! What a fun project! 🙂

Nicolle W. - I LOVE that craft. I love that book! Don’t worry, I have seen that John Rambo comment on numerous blogs. Weirdo! 🙂

CathyC - Your love story is fantastic!
(I actually think “John Rambo” is probably a 20 something yr old GIRL. Very wordy and female-ish. I don’t know any REAL MEN that would waste their time).
Cathy

Nicole Q. - Fun simple craft . . . i can do this! have a happy thursday – we are seeing amazing temps this week ; I’m loving it!

Peggyrice@gmail.com - Oh, John Rambo;) Have you heard of Chris Lee, the shirtless Congressman? I say we American women start our own boycott of delirious, ridiculous, aging men. Cheers.

melissa rice - How hillarious that He is posting on a womens blog that defies everything he just stated. Meg is creative slender beautiful inside and out adores her family of, ahem, 5!!! Is silly and romantic with her husband and cooks!!!! Geez. I laughed anyhow…

deborah@applesinwonderland - i just posted after poor poor john rambo. i had no idea your “whatever” blog was also a place to find a wife. awesome, meg. you really do it all:)
the gaggle of chameleons, or herd or school or litter…are way cool, too.

Jennifer in VA - Love the chameleons, too busy with school and sports to do Craft thursdays with my kids now – but I’m seeing this as a summer thing for our Summer fun list!
And John?, wow! no. words. But a good laugh – is he real? Or your husband and/or brother’s alter ego, playing a joke on you?

Lindsay - Love these! And I’m sorry, you’ve probably addressed this somewhere along the way before, but are your kids ALWAYS so willing to participate in a craft with you? I’m so jealous, I clearly messed up big time at some point during my son’s 7 years of life!!! 🙂

danielle - what the what is that comment by john rambo?
and happy to have your pretty self over on my blog today. yeehaw 🙂

Kelly - OK John Rambo, boycott American women in favor of what? Mail order Russian brides? Too funny! At least his comment made for an early morning laugh:-)
LOVE the chameleons, by the way.

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chicago

September 16, 2009 Filed in just the two of us

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we went to chicago for our anniversary.

15 years.

it doesn't feel nearly that long.

i have been with him longer than i haven't.

that is such a safe and lovely place to be.

we flew out on friday after getting the kids settled with grandparents.

(we love that grandmas watch the kids!)

dave picked us up at the airport…did a trip down memory lane through the old neighborhood…

yes.

i saw you old neighbors sitting inside your homes…marybeth.  you were on your computer.  :)

you too sue.

it was too late to just show up unannounced.

i could spend a week with jenny easy….but i will take what i can get.

we talked till late.

we went to IKEA on saturday.

oh my love for ikea will never die.

i fit as much into my carry on (that i made craig carry since it was so heavy) as i could.

these lights are fabulous.

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they are HUGE.  hold out your arms and that is how big each one of these lights are.

and they are made of paper!

so creative.

i didn't get one though…

we went for our usual gluttonous family style meal at maggianos.

we were short a few people that are usually with us….but we managed just fine.

who knew only four people could eat so much?!

we deserved a free t-shirt…or complimentary stretchy pants.

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that's my bff…chicago jen.

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the first night was at jen and dave's.

the next night we went to a hotel…the airport hilton.

i had LOW expectations.

and i was so pleasantly surprised.  it was nice!  and SO quiet.

i think i only heard one plane…and we are across the street from the airport!

impressive hilton.

well done.

and i was glad (for many reasons) my kids weren't there because the windows would have given me

a heart attack.

AND they opened!

it makes my heart jump just thinking about it now.

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we rode the train downtown.

we spent all of sunday in chicago.

walking around just craig and i together.

we didn't have to go into any lego stores even.

i got to see everything i wanted…hey except what about pottery barn? did you trick me craig?!

craig was checking out all the architecture…

and going into buildings we have never gone into…just to see them.

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craig's favorite.

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we ran into our friends from newton…they were in chicago for their anniversary too.

they had run a half marathon that morning.

they are awesome.

they were headed to american girl place. 

(we knew they were in chicago but we weren't planning on seeing them downtown…just later for U2) 

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the bean is just so cool.

i could sit here all day…i love to people watch.

everyone is smiling here.

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i told craig i think we should live on the top floor of that middle building.

"just a simple home for two"

i thought we should just have the whole floor.

i dream big.

those windows are gorgeous!

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ok…this is gross.

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i am sorry.

i just had to share.

it was so crazy…

she put her kid by the fountain right in front of us and then just bends over to take a picture.

showing us all her goods!

AAAAAAAAAA!!!

she did it several times…so i took her picture.

i just had to.

if you are reading this lady….thank you for at least wearing the underwear.

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we met up with the kansans and dave & jen for dinner.

stuffed pizza….YUM.

then we walked to soldier field for U2.

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this was the stage before they started.

it was super big….like rock star BIG.

with gi-normous screens.

U2

U21

he didn't bring me up on stage.

i thought i heard him calling me but no one else heard it.  

ha.

U22

U25

U2 junkies.

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you must click on this one.

make it as big as your screen….and then just think of what it would be like to be Bono.

can you even imagine all those people screaming for you?!!

it is unreal.

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U24

it was amazing.

you should go to their concert.

you won't be disappointed.  

i promise.

even if you don't know all their songs…you will LOVE it.

we made it back to kansas monday morning.

the kids were happy (most of them) to see us. 

and we were ready for them…we missed them.

they loved their chicago souvenirs.  

i love getting away with the
craigster.

he is my favorite.

so…now you have been reading about me waaaaay too long.

you should go get something done.

me too.

bye.

add a comment

tami reed - looks like you had a great time! You should have taken pics in front of Harpo studios lol. Im use to live in the midwest too! Cleveland, Ohio! We were neighbors lol

cufflinks - Wow!
How amazing does that look.
I love U2 but never had the opportunity to go and watch them live. I had heard that their gigs are something special but looking at your pictures it looks absolutely stunning.
I wish i was their!
I can imagine your aniversary must have been really special.

Kristine Robb - omg you crack me up! the lady… the craigster… the going and doing something else besides read your blog…
your pics are so great! makes me miss my sweet home chicago… my husband used to live in marina towers (the corn cob looking bldgs on the river – 48th floor) the year before we were married. it was amazing!
i had several friends at the concert. glad you had a blast! your pics gave me the visual for what they had to say about it!

Diana aka "knzus" - wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! what a great place to go for your anniversary… and btw, Happy Anniversary a few days late! have missed reading you, been so busy, and ill with my migraines, and busy, and well, life gets in the way of regular blog reading, heh-heh LOL! geesh, that lady with the goods that aren’t even good, oh my *rolls eyes* sure glad we don’t have that here… or do we???? always love your pics… love that you share your world with us, thank you for that… inspite of the undie fashion blunders ROTFL! {{hugz}}

Joni Lloyd - we used to visit chicago every summer while my parents did wholesale shows at the merchandise mart. it was a tradition to eat at portillos and try to catch a cubbies game if they were in town. thanks for sharing the pictures. brought back lots of memories!

Teri - Happy Anniversary! I am so jealous! My last anniversary that we got away, we lived in Chicago and went somewhere else. We didn’t know we’d be moving a month later. We are planning a huge family trip back, but to walk with my hubster all to myself.
Did you know- that you can order Portillo’s and it will be overnighted? We do it for Christmas every year.

Diane - Hi. I normally don’t comment but I love reading your blog.
First, great pictures … always love to see your what you capture … and that lady? Now that was hilarious. Couldn’t stop laughing!
My husband’s cousin was at the U2 concert as well so I shared the pictures. And the one that you say to enlarge, well, she did that and found herself in the picture!! She was so excited! So thanks for sharing.
Diane

Sam - Ok, seriously that women needs to invest in some longer skirts. Nasty. Definitely agree about the apartment. Imagine what great light you would get…..

Heather Anuta - I love your Chicago pictures! I am from Chicago but go to school in Ohio. I love whenever you even mention Chicago. I was home the same weekend you were there. I was actually there for the half marathon your friends were there for. I love the Portillos pic.. I had to get some before I made the drive back here.
I, too, could spend all day at the bean people watching. It’s just the most beautiful city! Thanks for sharing!

Jen - OH. MY. WORD! I cannot believe the lady in the fountain! Can I have your permission to post that on my blog with a nod to yours? I could use it for a post I’m ruminating over–seriously!
Chicago is my VERY favorite city! My husband and I are probably the ONLY people in the world who want to retire to a loft apartment in downtown Chicago. Hey–dreams are free!!
Thanks!

sara's art house - LOVE the Chicago pics!!!!

Melanie - Guess what, Megs? Me & my hubby were on the FLOOR of that U2 concert! Yep, I won radio station tickets and we had floor access. It was SO awesome looking up at those thousands and thousands of people. Not to mention that we were on Soldier Field where the Bears play. Too cool.
Glad you enjoyed Maggianos…we go there every July to celebrate our oldest son’s bday, as it’s his favorite restaurant.
~Melanie
http://www.melathome.blogspot.com

jessica - chicago looks amazing! awesome photos!A congrats on the anniversary. 🙂

Jenny - What a great weekend!
The photos of Chicago look fantastic. I would really love to go there.
I love those light shades at IKEA. I was looking at them last weekend. IKEA is one of my favourite places.
The U2 concert looks amazing. The stage is incredible. I saw them last time they were in Sydney – they always have amazing effects.

Dawn - Chicago . . . what a fun city! It is one of my favorite cities to visit! Loved seeing it through your eyes!

amy - I have enjoyed starting to read your blog. Check out ours…thebradsmithbunch.blogspot.com. Ordered Ed Emberly books today for crafts for my boys…they will love them. I’ve always wanted on of his books! amy

Kimberlee J. - The other night I asked B what he would like to spend money on more than anything—you know what he said? Seeing U2 in Norman, OK. He loved the pictures and you are spurring on the cause…maybe I should just send you with him???

Nicole - WHat a great trip . . . made me want to get away with my man! THose times are AWESOME!!! I’m with you on the IKEA love, I miss mine in UT! WHAA! THat lady bending over was HILAROUS, like I laughed out loud!! Glad you had fun, have a great time at the craft fair!!

Jaime @ Simply Arizona - Happy Anniv, Meg! We celebrate 15 years this year too (and I have been with my DH over half my life as well)… =)
I was actually born in Chicago… but we moved when I was 18mos old. I want to go back for sure – and your pictures just proved the point even more (except for the underwear lady, I could do without that scenic view!).
Thanks for sharing!!

Jaime @ Simply Arizona - Happy Anniv, Meg! We celebrate 15 years this year too (and I have been with my DH over half my life as well)… =)
I was actually born in Chicago… but we moved when I was 18mos old. I want to go back for sure – and your pictures just proved the point even more (except for the underwear lady, I could do without that scenic view!).
Thanks for sharing!!

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage - Happy belated anniversary…..your pictures take me there!

Sandy - Once again – great pictures! I’ve never been to Chicago, but between yours and my daughter’s pictures I REALLY want to go.
The picture of the lady bending over – you should send that in to …what magazine is it?…Glamour??…that has the DO and DON’T fashion pictures. Maybe she’ll see herself in there (although I doubt she reads magazines like that). They will insert a nice black rectangle to protect her privates. …maybe she should have thought of that!

Elisa - I saw them many years ago when I was at UT- great concert. I would love to see them again!
Glad you got away, always a good thing 🙂

pve - Guess I need to post mine.
It is coming – the anniversary.
22 years, so I have got you beat.
You kill me with all you do,
you bend over backwards –
with all your shots.

Mary Beth - True Story. Swear to Gawd.
1981 or 1982…a band called U2 was playing in Ames, Iowa.
We went.
( I went to Iowa State University back then.)
Didn’t LIKE them or didn’t GET them….AND WE LEFT!!!
And we had to PAY SEVEN DOLLARS TO GET IN.
After all these years, I’ve wanted to call that old boyfriend and ask if it WAS U2 that we left. I’m pretty sure it was.
Really nice pics, Meg!

Christina - Amazing, all of it! U2 and Ikea to boot!
Happy Anniversary. I love what you said about your years together.
And as you said…now I’m off to bed!

nicki - I’ve been reading, but never posted before! Anyway Happy 15th Anniversary. My husband and I just celebrated ours as well. Well, celebrating conveys that we’re on the same side of the world…. he’s deployed in the Navy. We have 5 kids as well (4-13) and we lived in Chicago when we first got married. We try to get to a u2 concert every tour, but won’t this time as I just feel traitorous going without him!
Oh and I needed to know, what pizza did you eat? Sometimes I dream about Connies’

Sara - I rarely comment (but am a long-time reader!), but had to comment on this to tell you a.) Happy anniversary! and b.) we probably walked right by each other on Sunday!
I live in Chicago (and work in that big white building behind the bean) but played tourist on Sunday and took my dad and sister on the architecture boat tour. I was wondering if I’m on that boat in your picture of the river! How funny would that be. We saw lots of the half-marathoners, too. They made me want to start training for something, but I’ve never run more than a mile in my life. 🙂
Glad you enjoyed your weekend in the city, and OMW that that girl with the underpants!! Yikes.

Sally - Look how many people love you! 54 comments is impressive.
I love Ikea. I used to live an hour away…now live 6 hours away. It’s hard.

Carol S. - Awesome pics, awesome blog, what a great concert that must have been. I turned down a pair of tickets last week because I had a church anniversary dinner to go to…..arghhhh! I think I’m heading downtown with my two boys for an overnight while dh is on a fishing trip. We love just hanging downtown Chicago!!

Suzanne - Looks like so much fun and I LOVE CHIGAGO !!!!!
Thanks for sharing makes me want to go again.
Just imagine what heaven is gonna look like with all those people (and more) are praising GOD 🙂 awesome.

Jerri - Happy Anniversary! Looks like you had a great time!! The pic of the lady, YIKES!…makes me hope I have never bent over with a skirt on…not that I would wear “that” outfit or anything! I feel like Bono was calling you name but you just couldn’t hear him! ha ha

Melissa Smith - Yeah! U-2 – we are going to the Atlanta show in October – can’t wait. Looks like you had a blast!

Trina McNeilly - Meg….. looks like you had such a great time. i was in the city that day too…..and some friends had an extra U2 ticket.. it was like a giant kiss from heaven…. I had wanted to go so bad but wasn’t able to and at the last minute that day I got to go. I LOVE seeing your pics.. I was like way up at the top…which was fine with me but it is cool to see a little closer. Wasn’t it like super amazing when he sang Amazing Grace? 80,000 people were there is what I was told…wow! So glad you guys had a such a wonderful weekend!!!!! You can never go wrong in Chicago!
xx

Sara Cameli - So happy for you guys that you celebrated alone and out of town! 🙂 You’ve got to cherish the moments…cracked up at funny lady picture. Nice. Real nice. heh heh.

Julie - That looks like the best weekend ever. Congratulations on your anniversary!

Lori - I probably should go get something done….but this is more fun. I’m so glad you had a great trip! And, I think it’s HALARIOUS that you took a picture of that lady. Awesome. But, what was she thinking!?

Amanda - This really makes me want to visit Chicago!

shannon - love your blog! my friend shared the link with me. where can I find you on etsy?

Kelly - Thank you for sharing your trip with all of us. I’ve been married 21 years and have never done anything special to celebrate. You are so very lucky!

Ruth - happy anniversary! and oh wow… these pictures are amazing. those downtown ones with the incredible buildings… gorgeous. as for miss buttcheeks… uh, no words. but classic picture!!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Won-der-ful pics Meg. I was just in Chicago this summer and there is just so much to see. Love the pic of the lady flashing you…too funny. That concert looked amazing!! I have two other friends that were there. Unbelievable being in a crowd of 80,000. Great get-away with your honey. Congrats on 15 years. That is definitely something to celebrate:)

Deborah Clark - Chicago looks so beautiful, will put it on my bucket list of places to visit, when the kids have left home. lol

Erin - Looks like you had a great time. I love Chicago!!! Can’t wait till I take my girls there.

Dina - looks like a great weekend ~ congrats on 15 years.
and not to sound all stalkerish or anything, but I like you 🙂 thanks for your blog!

Michelle B - What an amazing trip! I am going to Chicago in October – but for work but staying downtown. Maybe I can talk DH to come with me so we can have fun too. And as I am reading your blog post I am listening to Pandora radio and what came up…U2! How fitting! Happy day! Oh the lady bending over…that kills me. HA!

Sophie - Chicago looks like a wonderful city, I must go some time.
Congratulations to youself and Craig; here’s to fifteen more happy years!

Shana - I like your pictures better than mine.
Is Bono wearing a clown hat in that close up?! I don’t remember seeing that.
Hmmmm….
Nice shots.

Wendy - Looks like an amazing time with your love. Congratulations on your 15 years! 😀 I second the “icky-poo” comment about that poor unfortunate soul who needs a longer skirt.

jody - great u2 pics!
happy anniversary! we celebrated our 15th in chi-town in july–we met there, what a great city.
yes, glad she had undies on!

Christa - Oh Man! We are going to the U2 concert on Sept 29th! This makes me so excited!

Lauren - Happy Anniversary! My hubby and I have been dying to go to Chicago forever! Maybe one day we’ll actually make the trip from Georgia to the windy city! You’ll have to tell me all the “must-see” places and of course some places for the best food!

Kathy T - Happy Anniversary. We moved from Chicago to NJ 3 years ago. When I go home, it’s for the food. Portillos, Potbelly’s, etc. Oh, how I miss it! Hope you had a great time.

Jodi - You are officially my favorite blogger E.V.E.R!
Happy Anniversary!
Awesome pictures, I’m excited because it looks like your seats are about where our seats are in Foxboro and Giants stadium. It looks like you had an amazing view! 4 more sleeps for us! I am sooooooooooooo excited! Are you on U2.com or Interference?

kasey - yes…that U2 concert was fabulous {we went sat night}.
glad you had fun.

Staci - HOW great!!!! Happy 15 Years!!! We just celebrated our 12th…Brian whisked me away on a surprise getaway!!! I know to some…they would be disappointed, but not me…he took me to an AGA cooking school in North Carolina!!! We cooked for 3 solid days….and I loved every.minute.of.it! I loved learning something new together 🙂 But Chicago would’ve been grand too!!!!!!! We are going to the U2 concert in October in OK!!! I can’t wait after seeing all those great pics of your’s!!! And all I can say about that underwear lady is…YIKES!!!!!!

jennifer - Happy Anniversary! So glad you got to get away. It’s a must! Looks like it was an amazing weekend.
LOVE Maggiano’s! My sister used to live in Chicago and I miss being able to go visit her there.
Thanks for sharing the pic of the lady and her junk. HA.LARIOUS!!!

adrienneK - what awesome pictures!!!you look great! so much neat stuff…and uh that woman is yucky lol

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Chicago! I love it. I’m so lucky to live (relatively) near. Happy Anniversary to you. Does this mean that in 5 years Cory and I get to take a fun trip? We had late-night Papa Johns this year for the big 1-0. 🙂

Jocelyn Stott - WOW – GREAT photos and it looks like it was a wonderful trip. Chicago has such great architecture. Happy Anniversary!

Wendy robinson - Yummm Portillos!

Angela - Wow!! What a great post! My mom was born near Chicago, and even though she doesn’t get to go that often, she loves it. I hope to get to go with her one day. Without kids. LOL
Your picture of the lady at the fountain was like a train wreck!!!

Kristin - Oh So Fun. I live in the Suburbs and just love our day trips to the city. I am glad you enjoyed your trip. The renegade craft fair was in town this weekend and we went in for that. It was great.

Toni :O) - I heart Chicago so much! Awesome town and I’m SO jealous you got to see U2. One of my best gal pals is seeing them in California next month…I think at the Rose Bowl if I’m not mistaken. Looks like you guys had tons of fun and that is so great. Happy 15 years. My hubby and I celebrated 16 in May…awesome to find the love of your life isn’t it? Thanks for sharing your wonderful trip and that lady…blech…sometimes, I wonder what people are thinking…my goodness!

Leslie - Congratulations on 15 years!!!!
Woooohoooo – vacay with no kids…
jealous you got to see U2!
OMG, what was she thinking? Yikes Stripes!!!!!!!!
My retina’s have been scarred for the day.
And, I gotta know, what kind of lens do you use?
Thanks for sharing!
As always look forward to your blog every day!

Beth Ann - We were in Chicago this weekend also for the U2 concert. It was amazing. I love Chicago!! I see there are still tickets available for the OKC show they are doing Oct. 18th. I am trying really really hard to talk my husband into buying tickets. I’m not sure it’ll happen though!

mclare1982@aol.com - Oww, so much fun. I am totally jealous of your trip and can’t wait to go to Chicago someday-yeah, I know…sheltered.
My office heard me laughing out loud when I saw the picture of that lady!
Happy Anniversary! Ours was yesterday, although we are about 13 years behind you.

Tracy - LOVE LOVE LOVE the pictures and storyline, Meg – glad you and Craig had a great time! My husband is originally from Chicago and we are HUGE Chicago Cubs fans but that U2 concert looked like “the bomb” – HA! Happy 15 year anniversary – the hubster and I will be married 12 years this October but we just returned from celebrating our 10 year anniversary in Europe (2 years late) last week. If you have time to check out my blog – I have the first 2 days of pictures up. Have a great day! Hugs, Trac~ :o)

Sarah - WoW MoM! <--- I regards to the lady showing her goodies. WOW. I love the bean. And all your fantastic pictures. Looks like a great trip!!

aubrey - I so hope Underwear Lady reads blogs. So disgusting. Think she’s the same lady that turned a pair of men’s briefs into a sports bra? (Did you ever see that email floating around?)
Chicago looks fun–I’ve never been there and wouldn’t know what to do or where to go, so I’ll have to reference your blogposts about it if we ever do. 🙂

Sara @ Queen of the House - That looks so fun!! Especially the U2 concert and Zero kids!!
I want to thank you for that picture of that lady…just made my morning. 😉

Julia - first time I’ve recoiled in horror whilst reading your blog – eew!
That stage U2 was on was amazing – do you think they take it with the where ever they go?

Kathy - Happy Anniversary! What great pictures been to Chicago once and I don’t think I saw anything on your blog starting to wonder where the heck I was!!! Concert looked like a blast. What a wonderful celebration!

Sarah - It looks like you had a great time! Congrats – fifteen years is definitely something major in today’s society. I blew up that picture like you said and you’re right, it is unreal!

Kerri Wood Thomson - Awesome U2 photos. I was thinking about selling my tickets to see them in Norman–but you’ve changed my mind.

Jeannine - Happy Anniversary!
You two are adorable together =)
I just had to leave a comment to tell you how much I love your blog.
Thank you for letting us into your life!
You have to be one of the most amazing women ever.

Keri ~ ForeverFoldingLaundry - What a great weekend! Glad you had fun. Isn’t it nice to still like your husband after all those years?! 🙂

Georgia - Awww looks like you had a fab time away!
Pics are lovely as usual xxx Oh and HaPPY Anniversary! 🙂

callie grayson - happy anniversary! welcome to chicago such glorious weather we have been having this last week!!
I was at Ikea too on Saturday!!! (schaumberg, ikea were you at that one??) with my mum. we also had to go to bollingbrook, the other ikea didn’t have what I needed so I went to both!
that photo of that women, hilarious!!
U2 looked awesome, they always have the best set design.
xx
callie

carissa... brown eyed fox - OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!! ya KNOW what i am referring too! mouth open! bless her heart Lord!
so that’s where you were! too fun!
AND what a celebration…
hAppY AnnIveRsArY…
15 years is very special!
what a time!
what great memories for your heart!
thanks for sharing ll your fun with us!

Hannah - It looks like you guys had SO much fun!!! U2 definitely rocks my face off. 😀
My Mom and I just went to Chicago last weekend! We didn’t stay as long as you guys, but it was tons of fun. The buildings are so big and beautiful!!
I love the pictures you took too, you captured the fun of the city! Except that lady…just..no. Unacceptable!
Have a super day!
-Hannah

bopha - so, the lady, can that be for real, with the mismatched tube socks and all!

Anna Marie - Yes! That looked like an awesome time! and YES! I need to go get something done…garage sale this weekend…aaahhh
p.s. That lady….icky-poo!

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